Marvel just gave fans their first official look at Kang the Conqueror since the studio changed direction on the character, and it came from an unexpected place. The latest episode of X-Men ’97 Season 2 puts the time-traveling villain in his full comic-accurate costume, marking the first Kang design Marvel has released since parting ways with the character’s live-action actor.
The Reveal
In Season 2, Episode 4, “Rise of Apocalypse – Part II,” the Egyptian pharaoh Rama-Tut, voiced by Star Trek legend John de Lancie, watches En Sabah Nur complete his transformation into Apocalypse and decides his era is no longer his to conquer. He summons his Time Chair, suits up, and departs for another timeline as Kang the Conqueror.
Straight Out Of The Comics
The design leans heavily into the character’s comic roots, featuring the green tunic, purple gloves, purple helmet, and the solid blue face with white eyes that artists have drawn since the 1960s. Compared to the version seen in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the animated take carries a brighter, bolder tone. Notably, the animated series is not part of the main Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, giving the show freedom to interpret the character on its own terms.
Why It Matters
Kang was once positioned as the centerpiece villain of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga before the studio pivoted to Doctor Doom for Avengers: Doomsday. This reveal is a reminder of what the character can be, and with X-Men ’97 already confirmed through a fourth season and Kang exiting the episode alive, there is plenty of room for the Conqueror to return. For more on the series, read our coverage of how X-Men ’97 Season 2 debuted with strong reviews. Additional analysis is available at Screen Rant.
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